Abstract:As an important member of the nanocellulose family bacterial nanocellulose (BNC) is biofabricated by acetic acid bacteria as a high-purity hierarchical 3D-matrix with an adjustable water supply. Nano-structure and shape are controllable during synthesis. This extraordinary property profile, similar to living tissue and its biocompatibility make BNC a preferred nature-based biomaterial for the broad innovative market of medical implants. The therapeutic indications concern primarily cardiovascular substitutes and cartilage repair as most important diseases and challenges in recent R&D. Based on own results and current literature, structure and function of flat inlays and tubular grafts biotechnological made from BNC are presented and checked against corresponding implants from synthetic polymers, such as polytetrafluoroethylene, polyester and polyurethane, currently on the market. It will be demonstrated that BNC biomaterials open up the strong expanding field of life sciences and medical applications for the traditional biopolymer cellulose.

Abstract:The use of functional materials from natural resources, especially of bacterial nanocellulose (BNC), as an implant material in regenerative medicine is a current challenge. Because of the biomimetic structure, which is similar to extra cellular matrix, and the good biocompatibility this biomaterial is suggested as a scaffold for cell adhesion and migration with the aim of the reconstruction of body tissues.Nevertheless it is not entirely clear whether cells are able to pass the BNC network by active migration. On the one hand, it was observed by in vitro and in vivo studies that cells can migrate into the BNC. On the other, hand it was referred that the network structure is to dense for cell ingrowth. In the present lecture open questions will be presented and clarified based on own fundamental investigations. The focus is on the interaction of living cells with BNC and the ingrowth into the material.